Police charge 53-year-old Gold Coast man after streets in Palm Beach ‘trashed’
A man has been charged after streets in a beachside suburb were “trashed”, with residents waking to “trees down”, “tables vandalised” and “rubbish strewn across roads”.
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A man has been charged after streets in a popular beachside suburb were “trashed”, with residents waking to “trees down”, “tables vandalised” and “rubbish strewn across roads”.
The 53-year-old was charged after police were called to Palm Beach on Monday around 2am after a man was allegedly spotted “smashing” his way through the suburb.
A police spokesman said the man was arrested after officers arrived at Joe Davidson carpark on Seventh Ave.
“It is alleged the accused used a fire hose to cause minor flooding to a business and pushed over furniture and signs along the Gold Coast Highway,” the spokesman said.
Police charged the man with wilful damage and commit public nuisance and he is due to appear at Coolangatta Magistrates Court on February 24.
Photos taken after the incident showed trees ripped from the roots, rubbish strewn across the road and pathways and broken tables.
Palm Beach resident Andrew Anderson claimed he saw two men crossing Palm Beach Ave on the Gold Coast Highway early that morning.
“(They had) large pieces of wood smashing them against the traffic light poles and swearing extremely loud,” he said.
“Just sick and tired of this crap.”
Local MP Hermann Vorster said the alleged vandalism made him “feel sick and angry” for the community and small businesses.
“We must not accept this,” he said.
Division 14 councillor Josh Martin said the mess residents woke up to was “disgraceful” and council had begun cleaning and repairing areas that were damaged.
“For the community’s interest, I’ve been advised that Queensland Police Service are currently investigating the incident and an alleged offender has been arrested,” he said.
“I thank our local police for their ongoing work.”
Some Palm Beach locals said the area needed a greater police presence.
“We simply need more police officers in,” anti-light rail campaigner Karen Rowles said.
Palm Beach resident Sam Hazell said police needed to be “proactive and not reactive”.
“Need way more police, especially on the beat. Never see a police presence ever (in Palm Beach).”
Mr Vorster said police did a “great job”, but that more local police were needed.
“That’s why we’ve backed them with a $4.1 million boost,” he said.
Originally published as Police charge 53-year-old Gold Coast man after streets in Palm Beach ‘trashed’
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